#phillharmonic

Shea Stanfield

“Music in the soul can be heard by the Universe.” Lao Tzu

Local musician, Barbara Moss, has a rare talent for reaching out to the whispers of the Universe. Her violin’s enchanting tones transforms celestial whispers into the classical music enjoyed in community performances.  Born and raised in Kirkwood, Missouri, near St. Louis, Barbara’s parents introduced their daughter to the violin in 4thgrade, when a call came from school Music Director, Mr. Tolle.  He inquired if Barbara and her twin sister would be interested in playing in the school orchestra.  Barbara chose the violin, her sister the flute, and the connection was instant for Barbara.  She and her violin would partner for daily practice and Barbara’s familiarity and skill grew exponentially. Regional competitions and concerts became a routine activity through Barbara’s college years, at Southeast Missouri State College, where she minored in music and journalism and majored in English.

Ultimately, Barbara’s goal was not to have music as work in her life, therefore, she went on to found Moss & Company Executive Search, an executive search recruiting company specializing in commercial real estate.  Her clients were developers, builders, contractors, property managers, architects and engineers.  She grew her business to 9 recruiters who worked with her for 20 years servicing clients in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Phoenix.  Barbara’s violin and their music continued as a constant companion.  During her ‘career years’ she served on the Board of the Bainbridge Island Orchestra and continued her performing schedule.   The time came when Barbara and her husband, looking at retirement, were ready to leave their home in Washington State for a sunny climate. Barbara’s first requirement for their new community was, “It had to have a Symphony.”  At that time the Scottsdale Symphony was in operation. That was enough for a green light.  They moved to Scottsdale, Barbara joined the Symphony and the next chapter of their new life began.

Today, Barbara plays with the Scottsdale Philharmonic and serves as part of the leadership team. The overall mission of the Scottsdale Philharmonic is to provide the City of Scottsdale and surrounding communities with a professional symphony orchestra that performs traditional classical music repertoire for all ages, without charge.  The group, made up of local professional musicians, rehearses weekly at a local church in Scottsdale. Barbara sits in the middle of it all with her violin still singing.  In addition to Barbara’s passion for the violin and her involvement with the Scottsdale Philharmonic, she and her husband enjoy scuba diving.  Over the last 27 years they have dived in Belize, Indonesia, Puget Sound and each year spend a month diving off the Kona Coast off the Big Island of Hawaii. They are also the proud parents of twins, a boy and a girl, now 48 years old.  Barbara considers herself fortunate to have both twins living in the Phoenix area, where it’s easy to fit family activities into everyone’s busy schedules.

The Scottsdale Philharmonic presents 5 concerts a year, all open and free to the public.  The concert hall where they perform seats 2,000 music lovers for each performance, and Barbara will proudly share with you, “Nearly every seat is taken for every concert, plus some!” The remaining concerts, in the Scottsdale Philharmonic 2018 Series, are performed at 4:00p.m. on Sunday May 20, October 14, and November 18 at Scottsdale Bible Church in Scottsdale. For more information visit www.ScottsdalePhilharmonic.com.